My mother has always made great apple pie, and a family story praising her baking went something like this.

After a long and happy life, my grandfather was on his deathbed, and the family had gathered around, comforting him as he waited to die. My mother (his daughter) was in the kitchen, preparing a meal for the family, when my grandfather called me to his bedside.

I have one request before I die, my grandfather told me. I would would like a slice of your mom’s apple pie.

I ran out of the room, and returned a few moments later.

Eyes brightening, he asked, did you bring me a piece of your mom’s delicious apple pie?

I’m sorry, grandpa, I replied. Mom says the apple pie is for after the funeral.

Okay, okay. It’s only a joke – although one my family likes to tell, because my mother has always made scrumptious apple pie. She is also family famous for her meat pies (piroshky), borscht and other mouth-watering treats.

But I was reminded of the joke upon hearing of Donald Trump’s plan to build a cemetery adjacent to the golf course he owns in New Jersey’s Somerset County. If a state regulatory board gives its approval, the resting place will be located next to the greens of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

News of The Donald’s plans was given front-page treatment in Monday’s editions of The Star-Ledger. Drawing on a cultural reference sure to please the rock music cognoscenti, the headline announced Trump’s “Fairway to Heaven.”

The cemetery would be available to golf club members, many of whom pay hundreds of thousands of dollar in membership fees, the Star-Ledger reported. When Donald Trump, 65, sinks his final putt, he, too, would perhaps also be planted there. (No final decision has been made.)

The usually talkative real estate mogul is perhaps somewhat reticent to share his feelings about the project. The reader could find no quotes from the usually very quotable Mr. Trump. Instead, a spokesman for Donald Trump waxed eloquent about the plans.

“It’s one thing to be buried in a typical cemetery,” said Ed Russo, a Trump consultant. “But it’s another if you’re buried alongside the fifth fairway of Trump National, where golfers will hold memberships over many generations.”

The story went on to talk about the novelty – or innovative spirit -- of being buried in a golf-themed cemetery. “Society is finding all kinds of ways to memorialize people, but golf is not one of them,” a marketing director for a network of funeral homes told the reporter. “True golfers really find meaning in this kind of memorialization.”

A spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie added that New Jersey should be “honored” that Donald Trump is considering being buried here.

With its mix of sports, celebrity and death, this tale is surely a great human interest story. And yet – something’s missing.

What’s missing is any mention of what might happen next. That is, is Donald Trump making any plans past the planting?

In one sense, stopping the story where it does stop is understandable. Donald Trump is known for his real estate endeavors, not his spiritual journey. This is a story about a creative use of real estate. Besides, we don’t want to presume to speak on how he stands before the Almighty.

But it might be nice if there was at least a mention that perhaps such things don’t end with the planting, even for golf enthusiasts. Just a thought. I’m reminded of my mom’s apple pie – to be enjoyed after the funeral.